Dedicating NeighborWorks Pavilion

A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the NeighborWorks® Pavilion at Caldwell Park was held on October 29, 2014. The pavilion, which is located in the southwest corner of the park near the intersection of S. 7th and E. Lewis, was constructed to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of NeighborWorks® Pocatello.

A large crowd was on hand to witness Board President Mari Tusch, Executive Director Mark Dahlquist and the Pocatello Chiefs cut the ribbon for this beautiful new structure. Special guests included Gary Wolfe, Vice President for the Rocky Mountain Region of NeighborWorks® America and Chad Klawetter, District Relationship Manager for NeighborWork® America and several other dignitaries and elected officials. Pocatello City Councilman Michael Orr, along with Tusch and Dahlquist provided opening remarks before the ribbon was officially cut. Tusch also presented local community activist Dorsey Hill with the 2014 President’s Award.

Total cost of the pavilion was $127,000 with nearly all of the funds coming from foundations, private businesses and generous individuals in the community. It was 100 percent funded before being turned over to the City of Pocatello, who has agreed to maintain it. In total, over 125 donors contributed, with top contributors being the Ifft Foundation, NeighborWorks® America, Dorsey Hill, the City of Pocatello, the Bistline Foundation, the Idaho Community Foundation, Idaho Central Credit Union and Washington Federal. In-kind design work was provided by Booth Architecture, Garry Ratzlaff and Payne Engineering, with Bill Jackson of Jackson Land Design providing the landscaping plan.

The pavilion features 1,500 square feet of covered space and includes power hook-ups, lighting, and full ADA accessibility. New landscaping surrounds the structure along with a grassy slope where spectators can gather to watch different performances or musical events. The pavilion will be a new focal point for the park, which up until now had no type of covered structure. The pavilion will lend itself to community, neighborhood and family gatherings and live performances. It will become part of the City of Pocatello Parks & Recreations Department’s shelter rental system. NeighborWorks® Pocatello greatly appreciates how the community has stepped forward to help it complete this important new amenity. Alan Green and the crew from the City of Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department have been particularly helpful and resourceful.

Those passing by the pavilion and Caldwell Park may notice that the old wooden utility shed in the middle of the park has been torn down. Until recently, the shed housed all of the electrical equipment, sprinkler system control boxes and other utilities for the park. The utilities were relocated and concealed inside one of the columns of the pavilion.

The project took nearly two years of planning and fundraising before it came to fruition. This is due in large part from the NeighborWorks® Pavilion committee, whose members include Melanie Gygli, Lee Ann Dutton, Peg Hudson, Rodger Sealey, Sarah Jackson, Shawna Engen, Ted Booth, Alan Green and Mark Dahlquist. Much thought and input was solicited by the pavilion committee to ensure that the new structure blended into the existing neighborhood and was aesthetically pleasing. This included paying special attention to roof, column and concrete colors and the landscape design.

A new “NeighborWorks® Pavilion” sign will be erected and mounted on the structure soon. Eight new wire mesh picnic tables have been ordered and will be placed under the pavilion. Cost of the picnic tables were underwritten by the Greater Pocatello Association of Realtors® and the Parks and Recreation Department.

To recognize donors who contributed $100 or more, two large granite plaques are currently being manufactured by Walker Monument and will be erected on two of the pavilion columns in a few weeks. A third column will include a granite plaque describing what the pavilion symbolizes. The three columns represent the collaboration between residents, business and government which “support the roof”. All three entities coming together have greatly contributed in the success of NeighborWorks® Pocatello over the past 20-plus years. NeighborWorks® Pocatello’s mission is to create and preserve vibrant neighborhoods. Providing a shelter to all, the pavilion stands as evidence that “being a good neighbor works” – for the individual, the neighborhood and the community.

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